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Lights! Camera! Action!
Soon Mission Pawsible will be able to add, 'As Seen on TV' to their signature line...
Mission Pawsible just wrapped up a spay & neuter clinic in Ahousaht. It was very successful but also very stressful as one of our volunteer veterinarians had a TV crew following her around. This doctor is the one of the stars of a TV show that showcases Indigenous vets. The show is going into its third season and our operation may be featured in one of the episodes.
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In addition to doing back-to-back surgeries in a packed, 18-foot trailer on a small island in a remote community, the Mission Pawsible team had to work around two camera guys, a sound guy, and a director. It took a lot of patience, as the TV crew would often ask the team to repeat something or to pause so they could get a camera set up, but it was worth it.
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Sharing our critical, game-changing work and story with more folks is necessary. It is a critical part of our fundraising strategy as well as part of our mission statement (to share our successes and failures with other animal rescues, shelters and non-profit vet clinics).
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I also appreciated seeing our work and the communities we have been partnering with for over a decade through the volunteering vet’s eyes and TV crew’s lenses. The volunteering vet grew up in an Indigenous community in Alberta, not far from Calgary. The impacts of the remoteness of Maaqtusiis (Ahousaht) were new to her and a bit shocking.
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Of course, we talked about how the remoteness of the community relates to the dog (over)population and wellness. But we also talked about how it now costs those living in Maaqtusiis $40 to $60 (round trip) to get to Tofino to buy groceries! And that is if there is a water taxi running. If there isn’t, it costs $200 to $300 to charter a boat to get to town.
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I am glad more people now know how amazing life in Maaqtusiis can be as well as how challenging it is. And soon, if this footage makes it into being an episode, even more people will know. I can’t help but think that it will support the efforts underway to address the systemic causes of some of the challenges faced by those (humans and non humans) living in remote communities beyond the end of the road.
From the Logging Roads of Dust to the Halls of Power!
Sharing another perspective on the state of animals and rural community health & safety with Ministers.
CARE’s cofounder and executive director, James, took a quick trip to Victoria to update Minister Josie Osborne regarding the state of animal-related community health and safety in communities like Ahousaht’s Maaqtusiis and to share the latest Mission Pawsible Vet Clinic updates.
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The visit started with Minister Osborne touring James around the Legislative Building. Obviously, the highlights were the underground tunnels, mystery doors that look like they can resist a rocket attack, and the old, subterranean jail that really should be put back into use to encourage better behaviour during question period (in James’ opinion).
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With the tour complete, James and Josie sat down in her office to discuss many animal and community related issues. CARE’s hope is that this meeting will help to expand our network to include more Ministers and other leaders keen to improve community health and safety in rural and remote communities around BC.
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We also hope to make the case for BC's leadership seeking a diversity of perspectives on animal related situations around the province. The BC SPCA seems to be their go-to for updates. However, that is only one (albeit a big one) organization's take.
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We need these provincial decision-makers, purse-string holders, and policy wonks to help on the macro side of the challenges many Indigenous, rural and remote communities share.
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We believe that together, we can find ways to improve the wellbeing of animals while also helping people feel safer in their communities by getting essential vet and other animal services to chronically underserved communities and reduce dog packing, fights and bite incidents, minimize disease spread, and avoid human/wildlife conflicts.